JesusOnline.com

MENUMENU
  • Discover
    Evidence
    • About God
      • Has Science Discovered God?
      • Was Life Created by Design?
      • Accident or Intelligent Design?
      • Does God Exist?
      • “God Evidence” Videos
    • About Jesus
      • The Jesus of History: Man or Myth?
      • Was Jesus a Real Person?
      • Is Jesus God?
      • Was Jesus the Messiah?
      • Did Jesus Rise from the Dead?
      • More Questions…
      • “Jesus Evidence” Videos
    • About the Bible
      • Is the Bible True?
      • Are the Gospels Reliable?
      • The Gospel of Barnabas: Secret Bible?
      • Are the Gnostic Gospels Factual?
      • Is the Bible Infallible?
      • The Bible’s Buried Secrets
      • “Bible Evidence” Videos
  • MEET
    JESUS
    • Purpose for Life
    • Is Jesus Relevant Today?
    • God Loves You…
    • Can You be Forgiven?
    • Know God Personally
    • Is Jesus the Only Way to God?
    • Are You Going to Heaven?
    • Next Steps for New Believers
    • “Receive Jesus” Videos
  • Follow
    Jesus
    • Next Steps
      • Discover New Resources
      • Explore God’s Word
      • Connect with Believers
      • Why Grow?
      • “Next Steps” Videos
    • Living for Jesus
      • Born Again as a New Creation
      • Trusting by Faith
      • Abiding in Christ
      • Embracing Your New Identity
      • Loving God Wholeheartedly
      • Pursuing Truth in God’s Word
      • Depending on the Spirit’s Power
      • Obeying God Faithfully
      • Connecting with God’s Family
      • Resisting the Enemy
      • Advancing Christ’s Kingdom
      • “Living for Jesus” Videos
    • Time in God’s Word
      • Read eBible
      • Download the Bible
      • Devotionals
      • Key Verses
      • Bible Study Tools
      • “Time in God’s Word” Videos
    • Attitudes and Behavior
      • Pride vs. Humility
      • Fear vs. Faith
      • Overindulgence vs. Moderation
      • Immorality vs. Purity
      • Dissatisfaction vs. Contentment
      • Deceit vs. Honesty
      • Divisiveness vs. Harmony
      • Rebellion vs. Obedience
      • Irresponsibility vs. Diligence
    • Bible Study Courses
  • MORE
    • #GODisHOPE
    • FOREVER LOVED!
    • Students
    • Next Steps
    • Devotionals
    • Read eBible
    • Download the Bible
    • Bible Study Tools
    • Key Verses
    • Gospel Presentations
    • Answering Questions
    • “Share Jesus” Videos
    • Search

The Beginning of the End

Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give him money. He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present. (Luke 22:1-6)

Even though the chief priests and teachers of the law were looking for a way to kill Jesus, they were paralyzed by their fear of the people. The word translated “afraid” in verse two actually means “to put in fear, terrify and frighten; to cause to run away fearful and afraid” (Hebrew Greek Key Word Study Bible–New Testament Lexical Aids).

Sounds to me like these guys were afraid of the wrong thing–better to fear God than man! We find this truth expressed so well in Acts:
Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:18-20)

Peter also said in the next chapter of Acts:

“We must obey God rather than men!” (Acts 5:29)

Proverbs tells us that we are not to be fearful of man:

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. -Proverbs 9:10

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe. (Proverbs 29:25)

God places His people in a position of testimony–giving us an opportunity to proclaim how He has been kind to us, the deeds He has done, and the compassion that He has shown us. We are not to be intimidated–the glory of the Lord is worth more than the approval of men! To tremble or be fearful of man will inevitably be a noose around our necks luring, ensnaring, and entangling us into sin. In pleasing man over God we are asking for sure trouble. We are to be faithfully following the way of Jesus, boldly teaching His truth in love through our actions and through our words.

“Never, for fear of feeble man, restrain your witness.” -C.H. Spurgeon

In our verses for today we find Judas, one of the twelve, sadly selling his soul for mere silver. And yet, Jesus, knowing exactly who would betray Him, treated Judas no differently than his other disciples–even to the point that all of them questioned who Jesus was referring to when He told them one would betray Him: “There is a wideness in God’s mercy, like the wideness of the sea.” (Frederick William Faber)

After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me.” His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. (John 13:21-22)

Take It to Heart

Nothing takes Jesus by surprise. Great is God’s mercy, love, and faithfulness through Jesus. Follow Him!

Next

   Follow Jesus
  •   Overview
  •   Discover New Resources
  •   Explore God's Word
  •   Connect With Believers
  •   "Next Steps" Videos
  •   Overview
  •   Born Again as a New Creation
  •   Abiding in Christ
  •   Embracing Your New Identity
  •   Loving God Wholeheartedly
  •   Pursuing Truth in God's Word
  •   Depending on the Spirit
  •   Obeying God Faithfully
  •   Connecting with God's Family
  •   Resisting the Enemy
  •   Advancing Christ's Kingdom
  •   "Living for Jesus" Videos
  •   Overview
  •   Explore the Bible
  •   Bible Study Tools
  •   Bible Study Courses
  •   Devotionals
  •   Key Verses
  •   "Time in God's Word" Videos
  •   Overview
  •   Pride vs. Humility
  •   Fear vs. Faith
  •   Anger vs. Forgiveness
  •   Overindulgence vs. Moderation
  •   Dissatisfaction vs. Contentment
  •   Deciet vs. Honesty
  •   Divisiveness vs. Harmony
  •   Rebellion vs. Obedience
  •   Irresponsibility vs. Dilligence
  •   "Next Steps" Videos
  •   "Living for Jesus" Videos
  •   "Time in God's Word" Videos

We like you.
Like us back on social media!


Copyright ©    |   Jesus Online Ministries   |   Sitemap   |   Privacy Policy   |   Website Terms of Use Policy

TAKE JESUSONLINE WITH YOU

  GET THE FREE APP NOW